In the three months ended June 30, 2008, the Company recorded $153.9 million in revenue which was comprised of $151.4 million in the Chemicals segment, due to the acquisition of Gadot in December 2007, $1.7 million in the Finance segment and $0.8 million in the Leisure-time segment and, as compared to $0.7 million for the corresponding period in 2007, which was comprised of $0.5 million in the Finance segment, $0.5 million in the Leisure-time segment and $0.3 million loss in equity in earnings of affiliates. The increase in the Finance segment revenue is primarily related to the increase in realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities.
In the three months ended June 30, 2008, the Company recorded $176.5 million in expenses which was comprised of $151.5 million in the Chemicals segment, due to the acquisition of Gadot in December 2007, $24.0 million in the Finance segment and $0.9 million in the Leisure-time segment, as compared to $3.2 million expense for the same period in 2007 which was comprised of $2.7 million in the Finance segment and $0.5 million in the Leisure-Time segment. The increase in expenses in the Finance segment is primarily attributable to the $12.2 million translation loss which was recorded due to the change in the valuation of the New Israeli Shekel as compared to the U.S. dollar, increase in the Israeli consumer price index and the interest expense of Gadot, which the Company included for the first time in 2008, and to the increase in interest expense related to the notes payable which the company received to finance the purchase of Gadot in December 2007.
On June 30, 2008, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $160.0 million, as compared with $66.7 million at December 31, 2007. The increase is attributable to the issuance of the Company’s Series B debentures and partly offset by purchasing an additional 15% of Gadot.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company had $23.6 million of marketable securities as compared to $22.5 million in 2007.
The Company may also receive cash from operations and investing activities and amounts available under credit facilities, as described below. The Company believes that these sources are sufficient to fund the current requirements of operations, capital expenditures, investing activities and other financial commitments of the Company for the next 12 months. However, to the extent that contingencies and payment obligations described below and in other parts of this Report require the Company to make unanticipated payments, the Company would need to further utilize these sources of cash. The Company may need to draw upon its other sources of cash, which may include additional borrowing, refinancing of its existing indebtedness or liquidating other assets, the value of which may also decline.
In addition, Ampal’s interest in Gadot has been pledged and cash equal to $2.7 million has been placed as a compensating balance for various loans provided to the Company.
Net cash used in operating activities totaled approximately $4.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to approximately $15.4 million U.S. Dollar in operating activities for the corresponding period in 2007. The decrease in cash used is primarily attributable to the dividend received from affiliates in the six months ended June 30, 2008, and the decrease in the investments made in trading securities.
Net cash used in investing activities totaled approximately $92.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to approximately $1.4 million used in investing activities for the corresponding period in 2007. The increase in cash used in investing activities is primarily attributable to the payment for ships purchased by Gadot and to the additional investment in Gadot and Bay Heart.
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $187.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to approximately $15.8 million of net cash provided by financing activities for the corresponding period in 2007. The increase in cash provided is primarily attributable to the issuance of the Company’s Series B debentures.
In the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company received $25.8 million notes payable and paid down its existing notes payable in the amount of $2.9 million, as compared to receiving approximately $37.2 million of net notes payable and paying down $26.6 million notes payable for the corresponding period in 2007.
The Company received $0.3 million from exercise of stock options for the six months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to receiving $5 million for the corresponding period in 2007.
Investments
In the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company made an additional investment in the form of a $4.6 million loan to Bay Heart.
In the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company disposed of the following investments:
On March 2008, the Company received $0.3 million from the sale of certain assets by PSINet Europe, one of the holdings of TP.
On February 29, 2008, the Company sold certain assets of FIMI for $0.1 million.
Debt
Notes issued to institutional investors in Israel, the convertible note issued to Merhav and other loans payable pursuant to bank borrowings are either in U.S. Dollars, linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel or in unlinked New Israeli Shekels, with interest rates varying depending upon their linkage provision and mature between 2008-2019.
The Company finances its general operations and other financial commitments through bank loans from Bank Hapoalim, Union Bank of Israel Ltd. (“UBI”) and Israel Discount Bank Ltd (“IDB”). As of June 30, 2008, the outstanding indebtedness under these bank loans totaled $112.5 million and the loans mature through 2008-2019.
On April 6, 2008, the Company entered into a trust agreement with Clal Finance Trustees 2007 Ltd. pursuant to which the Company issued notes (Series B) for trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (the “TASE”) pursuant to a prospectus published with the Israel Securities Authority in the principal aggregate amount of NIS 577,823,000 (approximately $165.7 million) with an interest rate of 6.6%, which is linked to the Israeli consumer price index. The notes shall rank pari passu with our unsecured indebtedness. The notes will be repaid in five equal annual installments commencing on January 31, 2012, and the interest will be paid semi-annually.
The following additional terms apply to the notes:
— | Ampal may issue additional notes without limitation. |
— | Ampal has a four year grace period for making principal payments on the notes, which payments will not begin until 2012. |
— | The notes are partially secured by a cash deposit in a bank account in the name of the trustee in an amount equal to four years of interest payments on the debentures, such deposit to be returned to the Company in eight installments beginning on the first interest payment date and continuing on each subsequent interest payment date thereafter. |
Ampal funded the Gadot transaction with a combination of available cash and the proceeds of a new credit facility, dated November 29, 2007 between Merhav Ampal Energy, Ltd. (“MAE”) and IDB, for approximately $60.7 million which amount was increased on June 3, 2008, on the same terms and conditions, by approximately $11.3 million (the “credit Facility”). The Credit Facility is divided into two equal loans of approximately $36.0 million. The first loan is a revolving loan that has no principal payments and may be repaid in full or in part on December 31 of each year until 2019, when a single balloon payment will become due. The second loan also matures in 2019, has no principal payments for the first 1.5 years, and shall thereafter be paid in equal installments over the remaining 9.5 years of the term. Interest on both loans accrues at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a percentage spread and is payable on a current basis. Ampal has guaranteed all the obligations of MAE under the Credit Facility and Ampal’s interest in Gadot has also been pledged to IDB as a security for the Credit Facility. Yosef Maiman has agreed to maintain ownership of a certain amount of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. The Credit Facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company has a $14.5 million loan with UBI, an $8.3 million loan with UBI that bears interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 2% to be repaid in six annual installments commencing on April 2, 2008 and various other loans with UBI in the aggregate amount of $6.2 million bearing interest at rates between 4.3% and 4.8% to be repaid until 2009.
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As of June 30, 2008, the Company has a $22.5 million loan with Bank Hapoalim as part of a $27 million dollar loan facility. The funds borrowed under the loan facility are due in six annual installments commencing on December 31, 2007 and bear interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 2%. The related loan agreement contains financial and other covenants including an acceleration of payment upon the occurrence of certain changes in the ownership of the Company’s Class A Stock. As of June 30, 2008, the Company is in compliance with its debt covenants.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company has a $109.3 million loan from institutional investors who own 50% of Merhav Ampal Energy Holdings, LP. The loan is not linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel, bears no interest and is repayable upon agreement by both parties, but with a minimum term of one year.
A short term loan from Bank Hapoalim in the amount of $3.5 million bears interest of 7.1% and is to be repaid by December 31, 2008.
On November 20, 2006, the Company entered into a trust agreement with Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. pursuant to which the Company issued notes to institutional investors in Israel in the principal aggregate amount of NIS 250 million (approximately $58 million) with an interest rate of 5.75%, which is linked to the Israeli consumer price index. The notes shall rank pari passu with our unsecured indebtedness. The notes will be repaid in five equal annual installments commencing on November 20, 2011, and the interest will be paid semi-annually. As of June 30, 2008, the outstanding debt under the notes amounts to $78.7 million, due to the change in valuation of the New Israeli Shekel as compared to the U.S. dollar. The Company deposited an amount of $10,207,000 with Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. to secure the first three years worth of payments of interest on the debentures. As of June 30, 2008, the outstanding amount of the deposit was $6.4 million. Prior to the issuance of the debentures, Midroog Ltd., an affiliate of Moody’s Investors Service, rated the debentures as A3, which rating was raised to A2 in March 2008.
On April 29, 2008 the Company completed its Series B debenture offering in Israel. Ampal accepted subscriptions in the amount of NIS 577.8 million (approximately $165.7 million) for its Series B debentures. The debentures are linked to the Israeli consumer price index and will carry an annual interest rate of 6.6%.
Other long term borrowings in the amount of $0.2 million are linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel, mature between 2008 and 2010 and bear annual interest of 5.7%.
As of June 30, 2008, Gadot had $0.2 million outstanding under its convertible debentures. Gadot’s debentures were listed on the TASE in December 2003, are linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel, bear annual interest at the rate of 6.5%, and are repayable in two equal annual installments on December 5, 2008 and 2009. The debentures are convertible into ordinary shares of Gadot, commencing from the date they were listed on the TASE until December 5, 2009.
As of June 30, 2008, Gadot had $16.6 million outstanding under its other debentures. These debentures are not convertible into shares and are repayable in five equal annual installments on September 15 of each of the years 2008 through 2012. The unsettled balance of the principal of the debentures bears annual interest at the rate of 5.3%. The principal and interest of the debentures are linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel and the interest is payable in semi-annual installments on March 15 and September 15 of each of the years 2006 through 2012.
As of June 30, 2008, Gadot has short term loans payable in the amount of $110 million and long term loans payable in the amount of $42.5 million. The various short term loans payable are either unlinked or linked to the Euro and bear interest at rates between 5.73% to 6.09%. The various long term loans payable are either unlinked, linked to the Consumer Price Index in Israel or linked to the Euro and bear interest at rates between 4.82% to 6.9%.
The weighted average interest rates and the balances of these short-term borrowings at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were 5.3% on $154.2 million and 6.3% on $136.6 million, respectively.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company had issued guarantees on certain outstanding loans to its investees and subsidiaries in the aggregate principal amount of $24.9 million. These include:
1. | A $5.9 million guarantee on indebtedness incurred by Bay Heart in connection with the development of the property. Bay Heart recorded losses in 2008 as a result of decreased rental revenues. There can be no guarantee that Bay Heart will become profitable or that it will generate sufficient cash to repay its outstanding indebtedness without relying on the Company’s guarantee. |
2. | A $1.3 million guarantee to Galha (1960) Ltd. (“Galha”) if a final judgment is entered against the Company in the Tel Aviv District Court. |
3. | A $17.7 million guarantee of Gadot for outstanding loans. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than the foreign currency contracts specified below, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
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FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS
The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist of foreign currency forward exchange contracts to purchase or sell U.S. dollars. These contracts are utilized by the Company, from time to time, to manage risk exposure to movements in foreign exchange rates. None of these contracts have been designated as hedging instruments. These contracts are recognized as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at their fair value, which is the estimated amount at which they could be settled, based on market prices or dealer quotes, where available, or based on pricing models. Changes in fair value are recognized currently in earnings.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company had open foreign currency forward exchange contracts to purchase U.S. Dollars and sell Euros in the amount of $3.9 million, contracts to purchase Euros and sell Pounds in the amount of $0.3 million and contracts to sell U.S. Dollars and buy Euros in the amount of $1.3 million.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report (including but not limited to factors discussed above, in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) includes forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of management of the Company as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of the Company. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,”“intend,” “plan,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or the management of the Company, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events or future financial performance of the Company, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including among others, the economic and political conditions in Israel and the Middle East and the global business and economic conditions in the different sectors and markets where the Company’s portfolio companies operate.
Should any of those risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. These risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, those described in this report, in Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
MARKET RISKS AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, index rates and equity price changes. The following analysis presents the hypothetical loss in earnings, cash flows and fair values of the financial instruments which were held by the Company at June 30, 2008, and are sensitive to the above market risks.
During the six months ended June 30, 2008, there have been no material changes in the market risk exposures facing the Company as compared to those the Company faced in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Interest Rate Risks
On May 15, 2008, the Company entered into a swap agreement with respect to its Series B debentures, in the principal amount of $165.7 million, due 2016. As a result of these agreements the Company is currently paying an effective interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.12% on $43.9 million of these debentures, as compared to the original 6.6% fixed rate which is linked to the Israeli consumer price index.
As of June 30, 2008, the value of the currency swap resulted in a $2.7 million increase in other assets and a corresponding decrease in interest expense.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company had financial assets totaling $206.5 million and financial liabilities totaling $643.5 million. For fixed rate financial instruments, interest rate changes affect the fair market value but do not impact earnings or cash flows. Conversely, for variable rate financial instruments, interest rate changes generally do not affect the fair market value but do impact future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company did not have fixed rate financial assets and had variable rate financial assets of $192.5 million. A ten percent decrease in interest rates would not increase the unrealized fair value of the fixed rate assets.
As of June 30, 2008, the Company had fixed rate debt of $398.3 million and variable rate debt of $245.2 million. A ten percent decrease in interest rates would increase the unrealized fair value of the financial debts in the form of the fixed rate debt by approximately $1.5 million.
The net decrease in earnings and cash flows for the next year resulting from a ten percent interest rate increase would be approximately $1.0 million, holding other variables constant.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Sensitivity Analysis
The Company’s exchange rate exposure on its financial instruments results from its investments and ongoing operations. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had open foreign exchange forward contracts to purchase U.S. Dollars and sell Euros in the amount of $3.9 million, contracts to purchase Euros and sell Pounds in the amount of $0.3 million and contracts to sell U.S. Dollars and buy Euros in the amount of $1.3 million. Holding other variables constant, if there were a ten percent devaluation of each of the foreign currency, the Company’s cumulative translation loss reflected in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive loss would increase by $2.2 million, and regarding the statements of operations, a ten percent devaluation of the U.S. Dollar exchange rate would result in a net increase in earnings and cash flows of $25.6 million, and a ten percent devaluation of the Euro exchange rate would result in a net increase in earnings and cash flows of $1.4 million.
On May 15, 2008, the Company entered into a swap agreement with respect to its Series B debentures, in the principal amount of $165.7 million, due 2016. As a result of these agreements the Company is currently paying an effective interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.12% on $43.9 million of these notes, as compared to the original 6.6% fixed rate which is linked to the Israeli consumer price index. As of June 30, 2008, the value of the currency swap resulted in a $2.7 million increase in other assets and a corresponding decrease in interest expense.
Equity Price Risk
The Company’s investments at June 30, 2008 included trading marketable securities which are recorded at a fair value of $6.7 million, including a net unrealized gain of $1.1 million, and $16.8 million of trading securities that are classified as available for sale, including a net unrealized loss of $0.8 million. Those securities have exposure to equity price risk. The estimated potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical ten percent decrease in prices quoted on stock exchanges is approximately $2.4 million. There will be no impact on cash flow resulting from a hypothetical ten percent decrease in prices quoted on stock exchanges.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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Part II | – | OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 1. | | Legal Proceedings: |
| On January 1, 2002, Galha filed a suit against the Company and other parties, including directors of Paradise Industries Ltd. (“Paradise”) appointed by the Company, in the Tel Aviv District Court, in the amount of NIS 12,269,000 ($3.66 million). Galha claimed that the Company, which was a shareholder of Paradise, and another shareholder of Paradise, misused funds that were received by Paradise from an insurance company for the purpose of reconstructing an industrial building owned by Galha and used by Paradise which burnt down. Paradise is currently involved in liquidation proceedings. Ampal issued a guarantee in favor of Galha for the payment of an amount of up to NIS 4,172,000 ($1,085,000) if a final judgment against the Company will be given. |
| On May 26, 2003, the Company and the directors of Paradise appointed by the Company filed a third party claim against Arieh Israeli Insurance Company Ltd. (“Arieh”) in the Tel Aviv District Court claiming that, to the extent the court decides that the directors of Paradise appointed by the Company will have to pay any amounts to Galha, Arieh will pay such amounts on behalf of the directors in accordance with the Directors and Officers insurance policy that the Company had at that time with Arieh. Arieh filed a statement of defense and stated that the policy does not cover the claim. At this stage, the Company cannot estimate the impact this claim will have on it. In March 2008, the dispute was submitted to mediation by order of the court, with the consent of the parties. |
| In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. |
Item 2. | | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. |
Item 3. | | Defaults upon Senior Securities |
Item 4. | | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Item 5. | | Other Information. |
4.a | | English Translation of the original Hebrew language Trust Deed dated, April 6, 2008, between Ampal American Israel Corporation and Clal Financial Trusts 2007 Ltd., and its amendments (Filed as exhibit 4.a to Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference). |
11.1 | | Schedule Setting Forth Computation of Earnings Per Share of Class A Stock. |
31.1 | | Certification of Yosef A. Maiman pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
31.2 | | Certification of Irit Eluz pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
32.1 | | Certification of Yosef A. Maiman and Irit Eluz pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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AMPAL-AMERICAN ISRAEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | AMPAL-AMERICAN ISRAEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Yosef A. Maiman —————————————— Yosef A. Maiman Chairman of the Board President & Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | By: /s/ Irit Eluz —————————————— Irit Eluz CFO and Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
| | By: /s/ Zahi Ben-Atav —————————————— Zahi Ben-Atav VP Accounting and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
Date: August 5, 2008
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AMPAL-AMERICAN ISRAEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Exhibit Index
4.a | English Translation of the original Hebrew language Trust Deed, dated April 6, 2008, between Ampal American Israel Corporation and Clal Financial Trusts 2007 Ltd., and its amendments (Filed as exhibit 4.a to Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference). |
11.1 | Schedule Setting Forth Computation of Earnings Per Share of Class A Stock. |
31.1 | Certification of Yosef A. Maiman pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
31.2 | Certification of Irit Eluz pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
32.1 | Certification of Yosef A. Maiman and Irit Eluz pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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